AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE RAT PROSTATE, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE EFFECT OF HYPOPHYSECTOMY
II. THE FINE STRUCTURE OF HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RAT PROSTATE
1970 Volume 61 Issue 2 Pages 152-170
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1970 Volume 61 Issue 2 Pages 152-170
Changes in the glandular cells of the ventral lobe of the prostate in hypophysectomized rats were observed by electron microscopy, in order to investigate the influence of hypophysectomy on the prostate.
1) The earliest change in the fine structure was derangement and decrease of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, which was even in the next day of the intervention. Three days later, the flattened cisternae were remarkably distended in irregular or circular forms. About a week after the intervention, the endoplasmic reticulum showed a marked decrease in the amount. Two months later, it was observed that only some vesicular remnants of the endoplasmic reticulum were dispersed through the cytoplasm.
2) On the fourth day, a remarkable diminution of secretory granules and apocrine-like cytoplasmic protrusions in their number was observed, which completely disappeared from the micrographs on the fourteenth day or later.
3) There appeared large cytolysomes in the cytoplasm after four days or later. They were surrounded by limiting membrane and contained a variety of membranous structures, such as vesicles, vacuoles, granules, and lamellar bodies, which were thought to be degenerated mitochondrias. Cytochemical method for acid phosphatase revealed some activities in the cytolysomes, indicating a disorder in the cellular metabolism.
4) On the other hand, a characteristic structure which might be similar to corpora amylacea in the human prostate appeared in the acinar lumen. A dense homogeneous material was placed in the central portion of it and showed a finer granular structure in the high magnified micrographs. In the peripheral zone of the structure there were stacked numerous vesicles and granules with various electron densities. The finding suggested a derangement in secretory activities.
5) Decrease in height of the glandular cells was noticed in the micrographs on the seventh day. They became cuboidal about two weeks later, and completely flattened two months later.
These findings indicated reductive and degenerative effects of hypophysectomy on the glandular cells of the rat prostate. Derangements in secretion and metabolism were also suggested. Put, the progress in degeneration and atrophy was more or less slower, than in those following castration.
